Both widows were devastated. Our Lord had compassion for them and returned their sons to them. Today we cannot expect miraculous healings like we read in Scripture. God does not does not work in that way now, through His prophets or apost

les. Now He comforts us and answers our prayers when we are in trouble. He uses His followers today, serving Him to bring about healing. St. Paul says in the opening of his second letter to the Corinthians: “The God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (3c-5).

We can use our afflictions to serve others. We can use all our experience especially our experience of pain. To determine where you’re best suited to serve, examine these six areas of past experience: Family. What did you learn growing up? Education. What were your favourite subjects in school? Vocation. What jobs have you really excelled in and enjoyed? Spiritual. What have been your most meani

ngful

ngful

imes with God? Ministry. Where have you

erved God effectively in the past? Pain. What problems, hurts, thorns and trials have you learned from? God never wastes a hurt! Your greatest ministry will often come from your greatest struggles. Who better qualified to help the parents of an autistic child than the parents of one? Or to help the alcoholic or addict recover than those who’ve fought the same demon and won? Or to minister to the divorced than one who’s walked through its fires? The experiences you’ve resented and regretted most are sometimes the ones God wants you to use to help others. They’re your ministry! But you must start sharing them. People are always more encouraged when we share how God’s grace helped us in our weaknesses, than when we brag about our strengths. Even undergoing minor problems gives you an experience which you can help you to serve those who have undergone similar episodes. Paul understood the truth of how God works through weakness when he spoke of trials he faced: “We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself... But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.” (2nd Corinthians 1:8-10)

Don’t hide your pain. Use it to help others.